Grande Liturgie Orthodoxe Slave

Choeur Rybine Moscow, Rybine, Valery

HMA 1951638

Western Civilization reached Russia later than the rest of Europe. For example, the Renaissance hit Russia hundreds of years after it hit Italy, and along with perspective and humanism, contrapuntal sacred music didn't hit Russia until long after it was established in Western Europe. Almost 200 years after Monteverdi wrote his last madrigal, Dmitry Bortnianski commenced composing Latin motets. That Bortnianski was no lone Boris come lately is proved by this disc called La Grand Liturgie orthodoxe slave, which covers more than 150 years of Russian and Bulgarian contrapuntal sacred music. Bortnianski's contributions were fairly conservative, but subsequent composers moved quickly into more progressive territory by paradoxically becoming more faithful to their roots. Alexander Grechaninov's contributions are sweet, deep, and true, while sole Bulgarian Dobri Hristov's contributions are warm, smooth, and pure. The singing of the Choeur Rybine led by Valery Rybine is rich, lush, and still clear, while Harmonia Mundi's sound is full and round, but somewhat distant. For a single-disc overview of Russian and Bulgarian contrapuntal sacred music, this disc will more than suffice. •James Leonard

CD x 1

Harmonia Mundi

2/16/05

794881766628